Transfer



July 1 1924. 1,499,998

J. J. ORMOND METHOD OF AND MACHINE 1 0R PRINTING BY TRANSFER File d July 25. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m July 1 1924.

1,499,999 J. J. I ORMOND METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING BY TRANSFER Filed Ju y 25. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 chm.

Jul 1 1924. 1,499,998

J. J ORMOND METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING BY TRANSFER Filed July 25 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 3% m Haw-M J :1 I'm. T U I" m 1111 July'l 1924. 1,499,998

J. J. ORMOND METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING BY TRANSFER Patented July 1, 192%.

UNITED srArEs hdttttlfm PATENT tll 'ilimii.

JOHN JOSEPH OR MUND, 01* .WIATTAPAN, .BUESTUN, MEALSSihfiiliitliflii'llwfi, AliifllH-NOED T0 ZFOHN JOSEPH ORMONJD, JOSEPH J. GALLAHAlQ', .l-kN'TU HERBERT l-i. GILILMAN, AB '1" UfitTlEiElid OF THE ORMOND lVLU'LTIUULUR ."PRliiIiPllitJt-i- COMPANY,

MASSACHUSETTS.

A, Utilla,

IVIETHCBD 431? .Altl'll Ill'IACI-IINE I 01? PlR-INIING BY TRANSFER.

Application filed July 25,

To all whom it may OCV/LGG/MLJ Be it known that l, Jenn (l. Unuonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattapan, Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Machines for Printing by Transfer, of which the following is a speci. fication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to methods of and machines for printing by transfer and has for its object to provide a method and machine by which a transfer medium may be caused to take up ink from the inked surface of one or more printing plates, transfer the ink so taken up to the surface of the sheet of material or other article to be printed, have the surplus ink removed from its surface and again take up ink from the surface of the printing plate or plates upon its cleaned surface and again transfer the ink so taken up to the surface of a second article to be printed, by a continuous ope "at-ion. A further object of the invention is to provide a method and machine by which the trzursfcr medium may be caused to successively take up ink from the inked surfaces of a series of printing plates, each forming a part only of a complete design and each adapted to be inked with ink of'a different color, in such relative position upon the surface of the printing medium that when transferred to the surface of the article to be printed a complete design will be imprinted thereon with all of the several parts in accurate registry by a single operation. A further object of the in vention is to provide a method and ma.- chine by which the ink upon the printing surfaces of the several printing plates will be taken up by the transfer medium whether or not the printing surfaces of the several printing; plates are in the same horizontal plane. A further object of the invention 15 to provide a method and machine by which the printing of the complete design will be effected upon the article to be printed what ever the material may he and whatever its thickness, if of sheet material, may be, A

19533. :Berial No. 6533272.

further object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to be operated by power by which successive prints from printing plates may be made by the same printing roller by continuous operation of the machine without the necessity of doinp; by hand, or by mechanism other than that of the machine in which my invention is ei'nbodied, anything except to ink the printing plates and supply the article to be printed and remove it after it is printed. further object of the invention is to pro vide means by which the transfer printing roller may be moved in a continuous opera tion over the printing plates and the arti cle to be printed into contact with means for removing surplus ink. and otherwise cleaning its surface, and again movcifl over the printing; plates to repeat the printing operation. A, further object of the invention is to provide a construction by which. as the transfer printing roller is moved over the printing plates, its rotation will be determined by its progressive movement so that its surface will have rolling contact only with the printing plates, and as it moved in contact with the cleaning means it will be positively rotated at a rate of speed independent of its progressive movement. A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the rotation of the transfer printing roller while in, con-- tact with the cleaning means arrested on the completion of the cleaning operation before beingagain moved over the printing; plates.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter described in view my invention consists in the method and. machine hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that the method of my invention is not in any way limited or re stricted to the use, for the purpose of carrying; it out, of the particular machine shown and described.

deferring; to the drawings:

Figure l a pers'spective view of the operating parts of a power operated. printing machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same printing machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a view of a design as printer on the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure'3 is a side view of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same machine,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-Zi of Figure 4t,

Figure (5 is a detail side view partly in section showing the transfer printing roller in contact with the ends of the guide rails in the position in which its rotation 1s arrested,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the retary disc for cleaning off ink from the transfer printing roller.

Figure 8 is a detail cross sectional view on the same line 5-5 of Figure a on which Figure 5 is taken but on an enlarged scale and showing the transfer printing roller in contact with the cleaning belt, and

Figure 9 is a detail side view of the gearing for driving the shaft which carries the pulleys on which are carried the belts for rotating the transfer printing roller during the cleaning operation,

In the drawings 1 lndicates a base plate adapted to support a series of printing plates of which three are shown, indicated by 2, 2 and 2 and a holder or support 4 for the plate, sheet or other article on which the complete design is to be printed as shown in Figure 2*. 5 indicates a transfer printing roller of suitable composition carried on a core 6, the ends of which are adapted to serve as journals on which the roller may rotate freely, and adapted when rolled over the printing plates to take up from their printing surfaces the ink previously applied to these surfaces and, when rolled upon the plate, sheet or other article in the holder 4, to deposit upon it the ink so taken up.

The composition of which the transfer printing roller is formed is similar to that used in inking rollers but preferably slightly harder or tougher than the composition commonly used for inking rollers.

The base plate 1 is supported between side plates 7 and 8 by a suitable cross bar 9 preferably formed integral with the side plates. Near their ends these side plates 7 and 8 are provided with bearings for shafts 1.0 and 11 each of which carries a pair of sprocket wheels 12, 12, and 13, 13, just inside the lines of the inner faces of the side plates. The bearings for shaft 11 are stationary and this shaft is provided outside the side plate 8 with a pulley'let arranged to be driven by belt 15 from any convenient source of power. The bearings for shaft 10 are made adjustable. In the con struction shown these bearings 16 are arranged to be slidable in Ways 17 on the side plates and may be forced outward to tighten the sprocket chains by screws 1.8 working in lugs 19. On the sprocket wheels are carried sprocket chains 20 and 21. each provided with a bearing block 22 and 23 respectively, for the ends of the core 6 of the transfer printing roller The two sprocket chains 20 and 21 are so adjusted that their hearing blocks and 23 are in a line at right angles to the line of u'iovenient of the sprocket chains. The diameters of the sprocket wheels and the location of the bearings for the shafts which carry them are such that the transfer printing roller will be carried over the base plate 1 in such relation thereto that the peripheral surface of the roller will contact with the printing surfaces of the printing plates in its forward or printing movement, and will be brought ack beneath the base plate and its supporting cross bar 9 on its return movement.

On the base plate parallel with but a. substantial distance within its longitudinal edges, are arranged guide rails 25 and 26. These uiide rails extend the full length, or nearly the .full length, of the base plate. they are type high that is, their upper faces are in the horizontal plane of the printing surfaces of the printing blocks, and these upper faces are level from end to end. 1n the printing operation the sprocket chains as they are moved in parallelism by the rotation of the sprocket wheel cause the hearing blocks 22 and to move forward over the base plate, moving the printing roller 5 over the printing plates but permitting this print-ing roller to rotate freely. This rotation of the printing roller is caused by, and is determined by. the contact of the portions 27 and 28 of the roller with the upper surfaces of the guide rails 25 and 26, these portions of the roller being of the same material as that of the portion between them which. eontacts with the printing surfaces of the printing plates. and of uniform diameter therewith. These portions 27 and 2?, being of the relatively soft. ruliiber-iike composition of which the printing roller is necessarily made. tend to (ling to the surfaces of the guide rails sullicicntl v to prevent any slipping on the rails and to ensure the rotation of the roller as it is advanced. by the forward movement of the bearing blocks 22 and in the same man ner as. but with greater accurac than, if the guide rails were provided with teeth to form racks and gears were substituted for the portions 27 and 28.

The printing plates are arranged longitudinally of the base plate 1 in a line parallel with the guide rails and 26, and so that the centres of adjacent plates are at a distance apart exactly equal to the (il(j1'l.'llference of the printing roller so that the same point on the surface of the printing es es roller which comes in contact with the centre of the first printing plate Wilh as the printing roller is rolled onward, coins in contact With the centre point oi each of the other printing plates in succcssioin thus en-- suringg; exactness of registry.

llt will be understood that the printing; sin-face oil. each oi? the printing plates is so cut away as to present only such portion oil" the design as is to be printed in a par-- ticular color the printing 'ilatcs in this respect being the same as the printing" plates used in the ordinary inulti-rolor printing process in which the sheet o'l paper to be printed is sul'ijectod to a separate printing; for each colon the sheet being: accurately registered tor each printing. Bljtlj, as the printing in the present case 's to he done by transter, the printing; plates are positives instead of negatiresi in the drawings, Figures l. and l, the printing plate 2 is shown as havin its printin s'liirilace cut away so as to leave only the portion which is to be printed in blue; the

printing plate 9/ is shown as having; its

printing surtace cut away so as to leave only the portion which is to be printed in red, and the printing plate 2 is she n as having its printing surface cut awa; i so as to leave only the portion which is to be printed in yellow.

It is, of coin-so, to be understooil that any other colors ma be used.

Between the sprocli'et wheels the sprocket chains are not suppor ed other than by the printing roller and, though hept under ten sion sullicient to prevent sagging, will by reason ol their Flexibility and tendency to sag, keep the ljfi'llltllll roller pressed down ward upon the {ruide rails sulliciently to ensure good contact fit the same time the flexibility ot the chains permits the roller to rise as it rolls over the printing: plat s it the printing surface oil one or more ot the printing plates is, above the normal or type high level and also permits the roller to rise slightly in case the article to be printed is of more than usual thickness lily reason of this vertical flexibility ot the chains it is rendered inniccessary to adjust the height ot the several printing: dates to exactly the same level and it not necessary to make any adjustment of the printing plates or roll to enable the same design to be nfinted on thiclr paper or carboard or on very thin paper.

il l hcn the bearing hloclzs and 2-3 reach the sprocket Wheels l3, l3, they, With the printing roller 5, which, in its rolling}; incre- .nent over the base plate his taken up the inli: from the several printing plates in succession and has deposited the inks so taken up in a con'iplete multicolor design on the sheet or plate or other article in the holder 4:, pass down around the. 'e sprocket Wheels to begin the return movement beneath the base plate and the cross bar on which it is supported.

the printing; roller reaches the limit oil its downward increment its end portions 30 and di outside the portions 9/? and 28, come in, contact with parallel horizontally arranged belts $591, an d 33 carried by pulleys EE- l, 3th and 36. 37.. r ispcctively on shafts 38 and 39 one of which sh: f s, shatt 39 as here shown, is arranged to be driven by any convenient moans. 'lhese belts and 33 are of such Width and are so located that they contact with the outer portions 30 and 1.3 only oi the printing; roller 5. These belts are driven in a dire tion cont )2 ry to the direction o't n'iovcnient ot the portion of the sproclu-d; chains below base plate and toe they are driven at such speed to cause the printing: roller to rotate rapidly, preferably at about 3000 ll. l lit. The sag oil the sprocket chains ensures good trictional contact ol" the printing roller with the belts.

the printing roller thus rotated is carried oi'in'ard toward the front of the machine by the sprocket chains its surface is la-ought into contact with thetace of a metal disc 44-0 arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane that in a plane perpendicular to the plane oi the axis of the printing); roller, and :arried by a vertical shatt 4-1 which is arranged to be driven by any coiwenient means and is pre'lt'eral'ily hollow. 'llhe diainclcr of this disc is less than the length oil the printing roller from end to end but slightly greater than the distance troin the outside edge oi" the portion 27' ot the roller to the outside edge of the portion 28 so that the disc Wilh as the printing; roller is moved over its face he in contact with the mid portioin or printing POl'hlOlL of the periphoral surface of? the roller and also with the portions 27 and 28 and its action upon the surface oi the roller will be uniform as regi ards the portions which bear upon the guide rails as well as the portion which brought into contact with the i irii'itinn surilaccs oi the printing;- plates in the printing operation. 'llhis horhmntal disc 410 (nierates to remove the surplus inlc which may remain the printing roller alter upon the sin-race or it has printed the design upon the article to be printed and to also remove any other torcion matter which may be carried on its surface The di. c il) so located relative to the A ii'ith the surface oil the disc 4:0 on a line parallel. with the axis of the roller i assin r through the centre of the its he roller continues to be moved forward its rapid rotation causes the entire periphery of the roller, except the end portlons and 31, to be repeatedly brought into contact with the surface of the rotating disc with the result that all of the ink that may remain on the roller after it has effected the printing will be completely removed. 7

For the purpose of facilitating this cleaning of the surface of the printing roller a slight quantity of a suitable solvent, such as kerosene, ispreferably deposited upon the surface of the disc before or during each cleaning operation. The disc is rotated at relatively slow speed. preferably about 300 R. P. M. Its speed should not be siu'iicient to cause the ink taken from the surface of the printing roller to be thrown from the a surface of the disc by centrifugal action.

The contact of this disc 4L0 with the surface of the rapidly rotating prii'iting roller is relatively slight just sufficient to take off the surplus ink and other foreign matter withoutcausing any, or any appreciable abrasion of the surface. But. because it is difficult to avoid some slight abrasion or wear of the roller, it is important that the diameter of the disc should be such as to make this slight abrasion or wear the same on the portions of the roller which bear on the guide rails and determine and control the rotation of the roller in the printing operation as on the portion which acts to take up ink from the printing surfaces of the printing plates as the accuracy of registration depends upon the diameter of the portions 27 and 28 being the same as the diameter of the printing portion of the roller.

The vertical shaft 41 is preferably hollow as stated and is open at its upper end to receive the ink and. other foreign matter removed from the printing roller by the disc so as to keep the surface of the disc clean. and a scraper 42 is arranged to guide this matter toward the opening so that this matter will pass down through the hollow shaft into a suitable receptacle below it. By the action of this scraper during the time that the printing roller is not in contact with it the disc will. be thoroughly cleaned after each operation ready for subsequent operation.

Between the belts 32 and 33 is arranged means for wiping the surface of the printing roller from which the ink and other foreign matter has been removed by the action of the disc 40. The means here shown for this purpose consists of a broad belt 5 between and with its upper surface in sub stantially the same plane with the upper surface of the belts 32 and 33, carried by rollers 46, 4t? and 48 of which roller is carried on shaft 51 and is positively driven by any convenient means. 47 is a relatively small guide roller and 48 is a larger roller arranged between the belts 32 and 33 near the disc 40.

This belt 45 is formed of thin slightly absorbent textile fabric supported by a thin flexible sheet of steel 50, here shown as an endless belt passing about the rollers 46, 47 and 28 beneath the belt 45. The belt is driven in the same direction with the bolts 32- and but at a slower speed so as to effect a wiping action and at the same time to carry the matter wiped from the roller towards the disc 40. The width of this wiper belt 4:5 is substantially the same as the diameter of the disc 40 so as to act upon the same portions of the printing roller which are acted upon by the disc. that is, the mid portion and the portions 27 and'28, so that any abrasive action by which the diameter of the printing roller would be reduccd will be uniform throughout the printing portion and the portions which bear on the guide rails. The absorbent surface of the wiper belt acts to remove and carry away from the surface of the roller any in or other foreign matter not removed by the disc 40. as well. as any of the kerosene or other solvent: taken up from the disc and also acts to polish or freshen up the surface so as to put the surface of the roller in the best possible condition to take up ink from the printing plates and transfer it to the article to be printed.

As the printing roller is carried forward by the sprocket chains and reaches the sprocket wheels 12, 12, it will be lifted off the belts 32 and 33 but as it is carried upward around the sprocket wheels it will continueto rotate at considerable speed by reason of its inertia and in adirection contrary to that in which it is required to rotate in the printing operation. It is therefore necessary to bring its rotation to a complete stop in order that its rotation in the o )posite direction by the action of the su aces of the guide rails upon the portions 27 and 28 may begin. This stopping of its rotation is brought about by contact of the portions 27 and 28 of the roller with 'the ends of the guide rails 25 and 26 these ends being slightly rounded as shown at 52 and 53 to conform to the curvature of the path in which. the printing roller is carried as it is moved around the sprocket wheels. These ends 52 and 53 being of metal are unyielding and if the portions of the roller which. are

brought against them were also unyielding the shock of contact would be destructive. But, the portions 27 and 28 being of the composition material of which the printing roller is made and which has somewhat the characteristics of soft rubber, serves, by reason of the friction between it and the ends of the guide rails, to absolutely and at once prevent further rotation of the roller and,

kco

iivard hthe rotation of ti means the hell's omplete design, in line and "with the by reason of its resiliency, serves to take up or absorb the shock of the sudden stopping Without injury to the roller or to the guide rails. f'LS the printing rolh-zr is moved onprocket wheels the portions and 528 are brought in con tact with the upper surfaces of the guide rz-tils and the roller hee'ns again to roll forward to again. t; to up ink from the printing plates and deposit it upon. the article to be printed.

it Will be understood that while the printing roller is passing beneath the base plate and heing cleaned of sui ierfluous ink and other foreign matter as described the printing plates should. be ire-inked and the sheet or plate or other article printed should he removed and another one substitutet These operations may he readily effected from .Q'lllllfil? side of the machine, preferahly from the side opposite to that on which the pulley l-t is located and should pre; ably he effected automatically by any convenient form of inking mecl'ianism.

Nhile but three printing plates are here shown it should he understood that any numher desired may be used, it being essen tial only that the he so spaced apart that the. distance between their centres shall be exactly equal to the circumference of the transfer printing roller. The base plate Will, of course. need to be of sufficient length to provide for the proper spacing of the desired number of printing plates, 'lhe printi ng QlfiiQS may he of any de ired character, rotypes, etched or or aved plates, lithograph plates, stereotype plates or Wood 'ilates. It should further be understood that the roller will need to he of such diameter that its oircui'i'ifercnce will he not less than the length of any plate measured longitudinallv of the base plate.

While the hell's 32 and 33 and the Wiper belt 4-53 may be driven hy any convenient and may conveniently be driven by a pulley 90 on-shaft driven by belt 91. fron'i any convenient source of power and the Wiper holt may conveniently be driven through gear 92 on shaft 11 mesh inn: with gear on stuh shaft 9 having secured to it gear 95 which. meshes with gear 5h) on shaft 46' on which rolle 4L6 is van riotl.

llavine; thus described my invention What l claim isz l. In a method. of transfer printing by means of a transier roller, arrangin r ries of printiw plates, each havii Q its printing r .d to print a portion only of a centre points of adjacent plates separated dis tance equal to the circumference of the i roller, causing the transfer roller r so roll over the printius'r sur es of the ace will not have movement of translation With reference thereto and so that the transfer roller Will be free to move vertically and its surface "ill beheld in contact with the printing suraces of the printing plates by gravity only, causing the transfer roller to roll over the surface of the article to be printed, bringing the surface of the transfer roller into contact with inlr removing means and rotating the transfer roller While its surface is in con fact with such ink removing means.

2. In a method of printing by transfer, rolling a transfer medium over the inked surface of a printing plate to take up ink therefrom with such regulation of its rotation that its surface Will not have movement of translation relative to such inked surface, rolling the transfer medium over the surface of the article to be printed to transfer the ink so taken up onto such surface, and subsequently positively rotating the transfer medium at a relatively high rate of rotation With its surface in contact With ink removing means so that the surface of the transfer medium Will move relative to the surface of the ink removing means at a speed greater than the movement of translation of said transfer medium.

In a method of printing by transfer, rolling a transfer medium over the inked surface of a printing plate to take up ink therefrom With such regulation of its rotation that its surface Will not have movement of translation relative to such inked surface, rolling the transfer medium over the surface of the article to he printed. to transfer the ink so taken up onto such sur face, and subsequently positively rotating the transfer medium at a relatively high rate of rotation with its surface in contact with ink removing means so that the surface of the transfer medirun will move relative to the surface of the ink removing means at a speed greater than the movement of translation of said transfer mediuutl and in a direction opposite to its direction of rotation in taking up ink from the printing plates.

4t. in a method of printing by transfer, rolling a transfer medium over the inked surface of a printing plate to take up ink therefrom With such regulation of its rotation that its surface will not have movement of translation relative to such inked surface, rolling the transfer medium over the surface of the article to be printed to transfer the int: so taken up onto such surface, suhseouently positively rotating the transfer medium at a relatively high rate of rotation with its surface in contact With ink removing means so that the surface of the transfor medium vvil move relative to the surface of the ink removing means at a speed greater than the movement of translation of said transfer medium, st pp ng such posit ve tation of the transfer medium and again causing it to so roll over the printing plate that its surface will not have movement of translation relative to its printing surfaces.

5. In a method of printing by transfer, rolling a transfer medium over the inked surface of a printing plate to take up ink therefrom with such regulation of its rotation that its surface will not have movement of translation relative to such inked surface, rolling the transfer, medium over the surface of the article to be printedto transfer the ink so taken up onto such surface, subsequently positively rotating the transfer medium at a relatively high rate of rotation with its surface in contact with ink removing means so that the surface of the transfer medium will move relative to the surface of the ink removing means at a speed greater than the 'movement of translation of said transfer medium and in a direction opposite to its direction of rotation in taking up ink from the printing plate, stopping such positive rotation. of the transfer medium and again causing it to so roll over the printing plate that its surface will not have movement of translation relative to its printing surfaces.

6. In a method of transfer printing by means of a transfer roller of relatively soft, resilient material, causing such transfer roller to roll over the inked surface of a printing plate, regulating the rotation of such transfer roller by contact of a portion of its surface with a fixed surface so that the surface of the roller will not have movement of translation with reference to said inked printing surfaces, causing said transfer roller to roll over the surface of the article to be printed, causing the surface of said transfer roller to be brought into contact with the surface of ink removing means and rotating said transfer roller while its surface is in contact with said ink removing means by contact of a portion of its surface with a moving surface.

7. In a method of transfer printing by means of a transfer roller of relativelv soft resilient material, causing such transfer roller to roll over the inked surface of a printing plate regulating therotation of such transfer roller by contact of a portion of its surface with a fixed surface so that the. surface of the roller will not have moveface is in contact with said ink removing means-by contact of a portion of its surface with a. moving surface, and stopping the rotation imparted to said transfer roller by said moving surface by bringing a portion of the surface of said transfer roller against a fixed abutment of non-resilient material.

8. In a method of transfer printing by means of a transfer roller of relatively soft, resilient material, causing such transfer roller to roll over the inked surface of a printing plate, regulating the rotation of such transfer roller by contact of a portion of its surface with a fixed surface so that the surface of the roller will not have move ment of translation with reference to said inked printing surfaces, causing said trans-- fer roller to roll over the surface of the article to be printed. causing the surface of said transfer roller to be brou ht into contact with the surface of ink removing means.

rotating said transfer roller while its surface is in contact with said ink removing means by contact of a portion of its surface with a moving surface, stopping the rotation imparted to said transfer roller by said moving surface by bringing a portion of the surface of said transfer roller against a tired abutment of HOII'I'QSlllOUi'. material. rc-inking the surface of the printing plate and a gain causing the transfer roller to roll over the inked, surface of the printing plate.

9. In a method of transfer printing by means of a transfer roller of relatively soft. resilient material. causing such trans fer roller to roll over the inked surface of a priming plate. regulating the rotation of such transfer roller by contact of a portion of its surface with a fixed surface so that the surface of the roller will not have move ment of translation with reference to said inked printing surfaces. causing said trans fer roller to roll over the surface of the article to be printed. causing the surface of said transfer roller to be brought into contactwi h the surface of ink removing means and rotating said transfer roller whil its surface is in contact with said ink removing means in a direction opposite to the direction of its rotation in rolling over the printing plate by contact of a portion of its surface with a moving surface. and stopping the rotation imparted to said transfer roller by said moving surface by bringing; a portion of the surface of said transfer roller against a fixed abutment of nonresilient material. re-inking the surface of theprinting plate and again ausing the transfer roller to roll over the inked surface of the printing plate.

10. In a machine for printing by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal guide rails. one near each edge. and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a. holder for an article to be printed. a transfer printing roller adapted to extend across the base plate having its surface of resilient inaanea material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and having portions of its resilient surface in line With and adapted to engage the Q uidc rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate, and means for bodily movii the roller over the base plate and returning it to initial position by a continuous movement, said moving means being adapted to permit free rotation of the roller.

11. In a machine for printing by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper sun face with parallel longitudinal guide rails, one near each edge. and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for an article to be printed, a trans fer printing roller adapted to extend across the base plate having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and provided with means in line with and adapted to engage the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it moved over the base plate, means for bodily moving the roller over the base plate and returning it to initial position by a continuous movement, said moving means being adapted to permit fr e rotation of the roller, and means for renmvinp; ink from the surface of the roller arranged adjacent to the path. of the roller on its return movement and adapted to act upon the surface of the roller during such return movement.

12. In a machine for printing by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper face with. parallel longitudinal guide rails. one near each edge, and adapted to sup 'iorti between the guide rails printing plates and a holder for an article to be printed, a transfer printing roller adapted to extend across the base plate having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked sur face of a printing plate and provided with means in line with and adapted to engage the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate, means for bodil v moving; the roller over the base plate and returning; it to initial position by a continuous movement. said moving means being adapted to permit free rotation of the rollen means for removing ink from the si'irface o the roller arranged adjacent to the path of the roller on its return movement and adapted to act upon the surface of the roller durinp such return movement, and means for po., ivelv rotating the roller While its surface is in contact With said ink removing means.

13. In a machine for printing; by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal guide rails, one each edge, and adapted to support, between the. guide rails printing; plates and a holder for an article to be printed. a transfer print inn: roller adapted to extend across the base l its surface of resilient material yer; t; ta he up ink from the inked surif printinn; plate on d provided with nouns in. line With and tifltlpllefl to engage the {pride rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller it is moved over the base plate means for bodily moving; the roller over the base plate and retiurninpf it to initial por tion by a continuous movement, said mo /nip; me being; adapted to permit free rotation of the roller, means for removinp; ink from the surface of the roller arits return movement and adapted to act upon the surface of the roller durino; such return movement. means for positively rotating the roller while its surfacein contact with said ink removing means. and means for stopping the rotation of the roller on the completion of its return movement.

14. lin a machine for printing by transfer, a be so plate provided on its upper face With parallel lon itudinal guide rails having smooth upper faces, one near each edge and adapted to supporh between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for an article to be printed. a transfer printinp; roller having); its sin-fare of resilient material. adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printi plate and of suliicient length to errtend ac. oss the base plate, having portions of its resilient surface in line with and adapted to bear upon the upper face of the guide rails to cause and. determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate. means for bodily moving the roller over the plate adapted to permit the roller. as contact of i resil ent surfer-e with the faces of the pa in rails. means for returning the roller to initial position by a continuous movement. and iueanr-i for clean r: the surface of the roller during' its return moveinent.

paralle longitudinal guide rails havingri smooth upper faces. one near eaijihe e. and adapted to support. llGi-WBGTI the I "re rails, printing plates and a holder for an article to be printed. a transfe printing" roller having its surface of resilient material adapted to talre up inl: from the inked surface of a printing: pl ate. and of suffi ient length to sir-- tend across the base plate. hat nn portions of '5 resilient surface in line with and adapted to bear upon the upper faces of the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller 't moved over the base plate means for bodily moving; the roller over the base plate aoapted to permit the roller. t is i nsoved, to be rotated bv eonof its resilient surface Witl'i the faces of the guide rails. :means for returning the it is so moved to be rotated by the I roller to its initial position by a continuous movement, means for cleaning the surface of the roller during its return movement adapted to act equally upon the portions of its resilient surface in line with the guide rails and upon the portion thereof therebetween.

16. In a machine for printing by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal. guide rails having smooth upper faces, one near each edge, and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for the articles to be printed, a transfer printing roller having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and of sufficient length to extend across the base plate, hav ing portions of its resilient surface in line with and adapted to bear upon the upper faces of the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate, means for bodily moving the roller over the base plate adapted to permit the roller, as it is so moved. to be rotated by contact of its resilient surface with the faces of the guide rails and adapted to permit the roller to move vertically, as it is so moved, means for returning the roller' to its initial position by a continuous movement, means for cleaning the surface of the roller during its return movement adapted to act equally upon the portions of its resilient surface in line with the guide rails and upon the portion thereof therebetween.

17. In a machine for printing by trans fer, a base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal guide rails having smooth upper faces, one near each edge, and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for the article to be printed, a transfer printing roller having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and of su'llicient length to extend across the base plate, having portions of its resilient surface in line with and adapted to bearupon the upper faces of the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate and having at its ends portions of its resilient surface outside the lines of the guide rails, means for bodily moving the roller over the base plate adapted to permit the roller, as it is so moved, to be rotated by contact of its resilient surface with the faces of the guide rails, means for returning the roller to its initial position by a continuous movement, means for cleaning thesurface of the roller during its return movement, and means adapted to act upon theend portions of the roller to rotate it while its surface is in contact with the cleaning means.

18. In a machine for printing by trans fer, base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal guide rails haw in;- smooth upper faces, one near each edge, and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for the article to be printed, a transfer printing roller having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and of sullicient length to extend across the base plate. having portions of its resilient surface in line with and adapted to bear upon the upper faces of the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller as it is moved over the base plate and having ai its ends portions of its resilient surface outside the lines of the guide rails, means for bodily moving the roller over the base plate adapted to permit the roller, as it is so moved, to be rotated by contact of its resilient surface with the faces of the guide rails and adapted to permit the roller to move vertically, as it is so moved. means for returning the roller to its initial position by a continuous movement, means for cleaning the surface of the roller during its return moven'icnt, and means adapted to act upon the end portions of the roller to rotate it while its surface is in contact with the cleaning means.

19. In a machine for printing by transfer, a base plate provided on its upper face with parallel longitudinal guide rails having smooth upper faces, one near each edge. and adapted to support, between the guide rails, printing plates and a holder for the article to be printed, a transfer printing roller having its surface of resilient material adapted to take up ink from the inked surface of a printing plate and of sullirient length. to extend across the base plate. having portions of its resilient surface in line with and adapted to bear upon the upper faces of the guide rails to cause and determine the rotation of the roller it is moved over the base plate and having at its ends portions of its resilient surface outside the lines of the guide rails, means for bodily moving the roller over the base plate adapted to permit the roller. as it is so moved, to be rotated by contact of its resilient surface with the faces of the guide rails and adapted to permit the roller to move vertically. as it is so moved. means for returning the roller to its initial position by a continuous movement. means for cleaning the surface of the roller during its return movement adapted to art equally upon the portions of resilient surface in line with the guide rails and upon the portion thereof therebetween, and means adapted to act upon the end portions of the roller to rotate it while its surface is in contact with the cleaning means.

20. In a machine for printing by transfer.

ill]

a transfer roller, a base plate adapted to support printing plates, means for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller arranged below the base plate, a shaft extending across the base plate at each end thereof, endless conveying means carried by said shafts adapted to move the transfer roller bodily over the base plate with its surface in contact with the surfaces of the printing plates and to return the transfer roller beneath the base plate with its surface in contact with the cleaning means.

21. In a machine for printing by transfer, a transfer roller, a base plate adapted to support printing plates, means for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller arranged below the base plate, a shaft extending across the base plate at each end thereof, endless conveying means carried by said shafts adapted to move the transfer roller bodily over the base plate with. its surface in contact with the surfaces of the printing plates and to return the transfer roller beneath the base plate with its surface in contact with the cleaning means, and means below the base plate for rotating the transfer roller during the return movement.

22. In a machine for printing by transfer, a transfer roller, a base plate, printing plates supported thereon, means for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller arranged below the base plate, a shaft extending across the base plate at each end thereof, endless conveying means carried by said shafts adapted to move the trans-fer roller bodily over the base plate with its surface in contact with the surfaces of the printing plates and to return the transfer roller beneath the base plate with its surface in. contact with the cleaning means, said conveying means being adapted to permit the transfer roller to rotate freely, stationary means carried on the upper face of the base plate adapted to be engaged by the surface of the transfer roller to cause and determine its rotation as it is moved over the printing plates, and means below the base plate for rotating the transfer roller during the return movement.

23. In a machine for printing by transfer, a transfer roller, a base plate adapted to support printing plates, printing plates supported thereon, means for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller arranged below the base plate, a shaft extending across the base plate at each end thereof, endless conveying means carried by said shafts adapted to move the transfer roller bodily over the base plate with its surface in contact with the surfaces of the printing plates and to return the transfer roller beneath the base plate with its surface in contact with the cleaning means, said conveying means being adapted to permit the transfer roller to rotate freely, stationary means carried on the upper face of the base plate adapted to be engaged by the surface of the transfer roller to cause and determine its rotation as it is moved over the printing plates, and means below the base plate for rotating the transfer roller during the return movement comprising belts adapted to engage the surface of the transfer roller.

24. In a machine for printing by transfer, a transfer roller, a base plate adapted to support printing plates, printing plates supported thereon, means for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller arranged below the base plate, a shaft extending across the base plate at each end thereof, endless conveying means carried by said shaft-s adapted to move the transfer roller bodily over the base plate with its surface in contact with the surfaces of the printing plates and to return the transfer roller beneath the base plate with its surface in contact with the cleaning means, said conveying means being adapted to permit the transfer roller to rotate freely, stationary means carried on the upper face of the base plate adapted to be engaged by the surface of the transfer roller to cause and determine its rotation as it is moved over the printing plates and means below the base plate for rotating the transfer roller during the return movement, said endless conveying means com prising vertically flexible sprocket chains.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN JQ$EPH URMUND. 

